Releases

Important Release Note:

Please note that before and after updating your Simplifier instance to a new release version, every user is strongly advised to thoroughly test the applications running on the instance for their complete functionality. Should there be deviations in the execution of the applications compared to the previous state after the update, the user himself is responsible for adapting and restoring the functionality of his applications created and running on the instance.

For this reason, we always recommend that you perform the usual procedure for release updates using the D,Q,P systems so as not to interfere with live operation on the product instance. The safe variant when proceeding with release updates is always to carry out the update on the D/Q instance first, test and adapt applications if necessary and only transfer the release update to the P instance after successful testing or adaptation.

Simplifier 5.0 Release Date: January 31, 2020

The UI Designer which isused for the creation of user interfaces has been completelyredesigned.

Besides the already known features, such as real-time collaboration, the new WYSIWYG editor (What You See Is What You Get) is our greatest achievement: You candrag&drop your widgetsinto the editor, which directly displays the preview of the interface in real time

In addition,you can use the real–time preview on different device form factors to test the layout without deployment first. This makes application creation much easier and saves a lot of time!

The different selection of corporate designs (themes) and your changes in the CSS editor are also directly visible.

A very special feature isthe newDB Designer. It drastically simplifies database creation, as you can now create your database scheme directly visually in Simplifier and deploy it to multiple target databaseslike MySQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server and SQLite.

Security and authentication are particularly important to us: The authentication mechanisms Active Directory, SAML 2.0, LDAP and OAuth 2.0 now offer central role and user attribute mapping based on defined rules.

Roles and attributes can thus be maintained centrally in your company’s user administration and automatically synchronized in Simplifier.

A new standard role can also be defined. This is automatically assigned to a new user.

Not to forget the metadata exchange via URL: This ensures that client and provider always use the most up-to-date metadata.

Be it icons, widget wizard, revised interface or drag & drop zones for the WYSIWYG editor – all UI5 versions of a widget can be managed directly in the mask. This includes support for auto-generating controls from the commercial SAP UI5 library.

The legacy route for direct execution of connectors is locked by default – in special cases this lock can still be removed in the system settings. In Release 5.5 this option will be removed completely.

Together with our brand new WYSIYWG UI Designer, we also offer the live preview in our simplifier mobile client (has to be activated in the developer settings. That means, that every change in the user interface will be published in real–time on your real hardware. This enables you to test your layout on different device factors and smartphone / tablet models in realtime.

Our Simplifier Mobile client runs natively on Honeywell laser scanners with android operating system. This means you can use the information fromthelaser scanner directly in your business app without any extra interface.

With our new native tcp support, you can exchange data directly with other devices over ethernet or wifi interface. We use this to support external fix-mounted laser scanners on a fork-lifter for intra-logistic use case in production environments or warehouses.

Support for the Simplifier Windows 10 Client will be discontinued as Windows discontinues its Mobile 10 platform.

Angular 2 Widgets and support for Angular 2 applications and runtime are no longer available.

The simple option for executing SQL statements within the SQL connector is no longer supported in Release 5.0 – the connector call is automatically migrated to execute. No effects on existing applications are to be expected.

The staging of applications has been further simplified by allowing different data sources to be configured for a normally three-tier system landscape (development, test, and production systems). For example, if an application is transported from the test environment to the production system, Simplifier automatically selects the adequate data source.

Since data is read or written from the correct data source, this saves a lot of time!

Many companies that rely on SAP have already migrated from their old ERP versions to S/4HANA or are planning to do so (the corresponding support will expire in 2025). Therefore, new interface protocols have to be set up on the customer systems. This of course includes oData. Within its powerful integration layer, Simplifier now offers a Connector Wizard for oData v2, which enables application developers to easily integrate oData backend services. The big advantage is that you can easily access existing oData services from S/4HANA or others without having to code.

The automated testing, which you already know from Release 4.0, has been revised.

Analogous to the OPA5 standard, we have introduced Journey and Page Objects. This allows you to group and execute several test cases within one Journey. You can use the Page Objects to access reusable test runs.

The search in the Process Designer now allows you to search for variables, auto fields and parameters as well as their unique IDs in the mapping dialogs. You can also search for descriptions and function names of business objects or connector calls.

“To Set or not Set…”: A new condition isSet or isNotSet now checks whether a variable is defined or not.

Errors in business objects or connectors can be “ironed out” using the ErrorMessage parameter in the mapping dialog.

By revising the business objects, we achieve an up to 500% higher execution speed of the server-side program logic.

Take the plunge: In addition, we have optimized user-friendliness and make it possible to jump to functions directly from the list view. The functions of the numeral.js library are now also available for formatting or calculating numbers.

Simplifier 4.0 Release Date: December 30, 2018

In order to optimize the teamwork in the UI Designer, it is now possible to work on an application simultaneously with several users. The new AutoSave function ensures that no changes can get lost and that every user works with the latest version.

Like in version 3.5, user stories can be saved separately. In addition, the Simplifier indicates who is currently working in which user story to enable conflict-free working in the Process Designer.

To simplify the testing of interfaces (connectors) and business objects, there is now a test history. Input parameters and test results for the test procedures are stored and archived. Users can retrieve this information at any time and repeat the tests as required.

To reduce the manual testing effort of applications, users can create automated tests by using the OPA5 technology. An absolute innovation in the low-code market is the connection to an automated German test cloud. This allows the app to be tested automatically on different browsers and operating systems*.*paid feature

For a better traceability during the application creation, the application process documentation is now automatically generated in Markdown format. In addition, the last editor of applications and connectors is displayed.

For external user management systems and single sign-on scenarios, the Simplifier now supports even more authentication methods such as OAuth 2.0, SAML 2.0 and OpenID Connect. The connection to an existing LDAP, Active Directory or SAP system via SSO2 is still supported.

It is possible to search for widgets in the screens within the UI Designer. In addition, users can use the arrow keys to navigate between the widgets. The search function in the Process Designer displays all activities such as events, scripts, connectors and business objects.

We have enhanced the SOAP and SAP RFC connectors with query parameters, for example, to change the current language settings in the SAP backend system. In addition, it is now possible to send messages to Simplifier user groups using the push connector. Parameters in SQL connectors can be used several times in the statement and foreign key dependencies can be created for SQLite connectors.

The user interface of the text templates was adapted to the Simplifier design and extended by transfer parameters analogous to the business objects. Furthermore, it is possible to integrate templates in the Process Designer into the application workflow in a configurable way.

Elements can be edited within the Data Workbench. Users also get more information about variables and auto fields at first glance, e.g. the exact data type. In addition, we have added some attributes to the Auto-Field URL, such as protocol, port and source address.

For more information, have a look at Data Workbench and the following pages.

Note: Due to the deactivation of the Android Legacy Client, the support for Vuzix M100 will be discontinued immediately.

For efficient management of dependencies between applications and data from backend systems, we now offer an overview that shows which data is used by which application or which interfaces are integrated in which applications.

We have reworked our Simplifier Universal Client for Android to include the same features as in the iOS Universal Client.

In addition to the function that you can work offline with the Simplifier client or the autostart function for already installed business applications, we now also support the fingerprint sensor for login with Android. Furthermore, the Android client now appears in a new layout in native Android material design.

In addition, we offer optimized menu navigation on data glasses, depending on the hardware completely with voice control. Support information is also automatically transmitted to the server on request.

And for the developers, a developer mode is now available that displays errors from the console directly on the device.

The creation and editing of connectors has now been made clearer and easier. The creation of a connector is possible via a dialog so that the functionality can be reused in other parts of the Simplifier. The dialog is divided into two sections. On the left side general and login information are displayed, on the right side you will find the type specific information.Read more »

You want to send emails with the Simplifier or maintain reusable text modules for general terms and conditions or data protection declarations in your portals? No problem – the new Template Manager simplifies the administration of static and dynamic texts! Read more »

You can use the authentication profile to explicitly configure applications for anonymous guest access by assigning existing roles directly to the application. Now the application works with a special authentication token, which does not allow login, but can still be equipped with all necessary authorizations for data sources etc.

We have also worked hard on the Simplifier Universal Client – thanks to the new interface we integrate natively into the Apple iOS operating system concept and thereby also support fingerprint sensors for login.

Simplifier 2.5Release Date: July 13, 2017

We would like to offer you the greatest possible configuration experience. For this, we are constantly expanding the Simplifier. With the new update, you can also integrate asynchronous connectors (MQTT, OPC UA and push notifications) into your app. This means that data is actively transferred to your device without having to worry about updating. Thus, e.g. you can monitor machine data almost in real time.

By supporting official cross-device web standards, there is an almost endless range of add-on widgets, such as graphs or digital signatures. To use external JavaScript libraries in widgets and / or applications, they can now be uploaded, versioned and assigned via the managed libraries function.

With the new update we have implemented Angular 2 in the Simplifier. This allows you to build extremely versatile, fast and functional web apps by configuration. The integrated Ionic framework provides the necessary native look & feel for progressive web applications.

Many Simplifier solutions are used by field service engineers or service engineers – often the network connection is fluctuating in terms of quality and availability. The Simplifier therefore offers an intelligent buffering of data with automatic synchronization in online mode for reception problems. In addition, all application data including static files are available on the local device memory and can also be used completely in offline mode.

As the latest innovation, Simplifier applications are also used in Microsoft’s mixed-reality Hololens glasses. In addition, the Simplifier offers a Hololens Addon to provide data from the existing connectors in the 3D reality world.

Thanks to a large number of optimizations in the Simplifier, it is now possible to configure even more than before. Thus, technical requirements as user story are written directly in the Simplifier and linked to the technical workflow. In addition, the mobile actions were enriched by video / audio calls and more. Also, the use of variables and preconfigured masks was introduced for easier handling of application data.

This feature will calm your marketing team down. You can now define your own brand colors and typography to match your corporate design. The Theming feature can be used for all your web, mobile and wearable apps.

Our brand new Jobs module lets you set up tasks to run in the background. In doing so, you can access any feature of the Simplifier. For example, you can create a job to automatically push data from one to another system or update machine data every three minutes.

In reaction to popular demand, we created the Step-by-Step Guidance module, which let’s you quickly build standardized apps for maintenance, strictly defined processes or quality assurance. These apps can be used as usual on mobile and wearable devices.

User interface elements used to be stuck inside one app that you are working on. Now you can copy and paste user interface elements to use them across different applications. Know your shortcuts for an added efficiency boost!

Pushing the wrong data to your systems can be a nightmare. With our new data validation feature, you can simply configure your data model and the platform will take care of the rest, before your data goes back to your backend system. Additionally, we also put this secure step at the connector level and compare compatible data formats.

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